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Related Concept Videos

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management01:22

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management

Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned under...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway interventions are...
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation01:19

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
Alveolar Surface Tension
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Endotracheal Intubation I: Procedure

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
04:56

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)

Published on: July 14, 2023

Airway changes during labor and delivery.

Bhavani-Shankar Kodali1, Sobhana Chandrasekhar, Linda N Bulich

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. bkodali@partners.org

Anesthesiology
|February 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Airway size increases during labor, with many women experiencing a higher Mallampati class post-delivery. This highlights the need for immediate pre-anesthesia airway assessment in laboring patients.

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A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
04:46

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation

Published on: January 17, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
04:56

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)

Published on: July 14, 2023

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
04:46

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation

Published on: January 17, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Airway Management

Background:

  • No prior prospective studies evaluated airway changes during labor.
  • Assessing airway modifications in women during labor and delivery is crucial for anesthetic safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate airway modifications in women during the labor and delivery process.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies were conducted: one using Mallampati classification and photography, the other using acoustic reflectometry to measure upper airway volumes.
  • Airway assessments were performed at the onset and conclusion of labor, excluding women with pre-labor class 4 airways.

Main Results:

  • Study 1 (n=61) showed a significant increase in Mallampati airway class post-labor (P < 0.001), with 38% of women upgrading by one or two classes.
  • Study 2 (n=21) revealed significant decreases in oral and pharyngeal volumes post-labor (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).
  • No correlation was found between airway changes and labor duration or fluid administration.

Conclusions:

  • Significant airway changes occur during labor and delivery.
  • Pre-labor airway data is insufficient; a careful airway evaluation immediately before anesthesia administration is essential for laboring patients.